It was May 2013 when Thomas Paradis convened in Siena, Italy, with a cohort of American faculty and students to lead a two-month inaugural study-abroad program. After a harrowing journey across the ocean, students and faculty alike soon realized that adapting to a foreign culture and language would be more challenging than they expected, especially amid one of the world’s more authentic community festivals-the Palio horse race. Paradis weaves witty stories of personal discovery with a crash course on Siena and its ferocious twice-yearly horse race. As the July 2 race and its related rituals draw closer, Paradis details how he and his wife uncovered the impressive local communities that underlie the life and blood of the age-old Palio in order to better understand what drives the passion of its residents. When the race finally begins, Paradis provides a compelling upfront view of the action and the race’s aftermath, pulling in the collective experiences of his students as their eyes and minds open to seeing the world in an entirely new way. Living the Palio shares an amusing and instructional romp through Siena, Italy, as university faculty members and their students gain self-confidence, patience, and most importantly, respect for a different way of life.

Thomas Paradis is professor and chair of the Department of Geography, Planning & Recreation at Northern Arizona University. As a President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow, he has served as Director of Academic Assessment and has led several study abroad programs in Italy. He and his wife, Linda, live in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Thomas is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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It looks like someone left the door to the nether region open again, and reporter Molly Martindale has got another batch of otherworldly supplicants who need her help.

Not long ago, Molly quite literally went to hell to help secure peace for her friend Dennis, who was born Buddy Parker in the 1920s in her beloved, adopted hometown of Oxbow, Florida. Oxbow has always felt charmed to Molly—that is, if she doesn’t count the ghostly visitors who turn her world upside down or the recent return of her ex-boyfriend Greg Richards, who brings with him the scourge of illicit drugs and a burning need to get even with her.

Molly is working on acquainting her best friend Dana with Dennis’s memory. He is the father Dana has never known but always resented. Molly must tread carefully, all too aware that she could easily lose her best friend in the process. What’s more, things heat up when Dana meets Glenn Morrison, the wheelchair-bound veteran Molly kind of thinks of as “hers.” But soon Molly finds herself threatened from all sides, as residents of hell plead for her help yet again.

In this sequel to Bitter Secrets, only time will tell if she can deal with worldly and supernatural problems as she fights her newest unholy foes—the advent of drugs into her world, decades of lies involving the powerful St. Claire family, and the shadows of her past.

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Patty Brant honed her writing skills as a small-town newspaper reporter and editor in a rural South Florida county. Born in Canton, Ohio, she lives with her husband and daughters in Clewiston, Florida. Her first book, Bitter Secrets, earned a finalist position in the 2013 Indie Excellence Book Awards.

Patty is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.

Demolition crews continue to raze abandoned and condemned structures in the sleepy town of Meadowdale – a city hit hard by the sluggish economy. A once-cherished building is now the dilapidated Meadowdale Community Center (MCC), where the handicapped and mentally-challenged sort recyclable materials and create artwork from refuse that catches their eye. This prompts many to consider the MCC a burial ground for lost causes. But a mysterious stranger in a wheelchair arrives and befriends an intellectually-challenged teen, Chase Mansfield. When the Community Center is condemned and Chase realizes the squirrel he feeds is about to become homeless, he comes up with an ingenious idea that changes his future – and the future of the community. Chase and his invention soon unite the entire city, breaking down barriers related to wealth, politics, age, mobility and intellect. In an age of fiction based on witchcraft, libido, and immorality, The Meadowdale Community Project is a family-friendly story for all ages, tastes and background.

Matt Shea writes stories that are designed for both young and old. He profiles the average person in society that’s a little different or misunderstood. Matt also writes about the plight of those who are mentally disabled and senior citizens. He exposes their personal battles in life; with values being challenged- but never compromised.

When it’s all said and done such individuals are recognized for being a contribution to society. They also achieve their just reward: appreciation followed by acceptance.

His characters are nothing more than average people that represent all walks of life. People like you and me. Matt loves feedback from those that take the time to read his stories. He offers his email address and promises to do his very best to answer all who write him.For More Information

Irene S. Roth is an academic and freelance writer for teens, tweens and kids. She has written over 500 book reviews and 1,000 online articles on different topics for teens, tweens, and about the craft of writing. She also teaches workshops on writing and craft at Savvy Authors. She lives in Stratford, Ontario with her husband and cat. Visit her at https://irenesroth.wordpress.com/

ABOUT HER BOOK

In Seasons of Empowerment for Adolescent Girls, Ms. Roth argues that there are four seasons of empowerment for adolescent girls. Sadly no adolescent girl can simply wake up one day, snap her fingers, and be empowered to tackle the world and all the forces that exist inside and outside. Becoming empowered to be who we are can be truly difficult. This book consists of a step-by-step guide to help adolescent girls achieve self-improvement.

Q: Congratulations on the release of your latest book Seasons of Empowerment for Adolescent Girls. What was your inspiration for it?

A: With this book, I want to inspire adolescent girls to get on the path of self-empowerment that will make the stronger and much more able to deal with the difficult years of adolescence.

Q: How was your creative process like during the writing of this book and how long did it take you to complete it? Did you face any bumps along the way?

A: I wrote the first draft of this book quickly. Then I went back and make some modifications. I didn’t have any bumps along the way at all, except I wanted to make sure that the book was written in a voice that was applicable to teens.

Q: Do you experience anxiety before sitting down to write? If yes, how do you handle it?

A: No, I never experience any anxiety. I guess I am a lucky writer.

Q: What is your writing schedule like and how do you balance it with your other work and family time?

A: My writing schedule is quite heavy: I write for 5 hours most days, and I teach and research in between times. I guess you can call me a writer and teacher. I slot my family and work life outside of these times. I always have.

Q: How do you define success?

A: For me success is defined as doing what you truly love. If you love writing and you can write quite a bit, you are successful and lucky.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers whose spouses or partners don’t support their dreams of becoming an author?

A: I would talk to them directly about it, and then I would still schedule my writing time and write. Sometimes you just have to do what is most important for you, without the permission of your family, especially if they don’t understand you as a writer.

Q: George Orwell once wrote: “Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.” Do you agree?

A: Despite the fact that I believe that writing is hard work, I have never believed that it is like a painful illness. That is too negative a connotation. However, writing does involve self-understanding and self-respect. And these can be hard to cultivate in a way that is open and honest.

Q: Anything else you’d like to tell my readers?

A: Always pursue your dreams, otherwise you won’t like your life or yourself.

Chronic pain has reached epidemic proportions but it is not a disease. Chronic pain is a genuine physical problem and its epidemic is being spread by the very treatments the doctors are prescribing. Over thirty percent of patients across the world present with back, neck, or head pain, the majority of whom are in chronic pain, but all doctors offer is a prescription for painkillers and a referral for intensive physical therapy. The patients never improve, in fact they get worse. Instead of receiving empathy and understanding they are often accused of being dishonest about the severity of their pain. Some are even sent for psychotherapy. ‘The Art and Science of Healing – with Light’ breaks that vicious cycle. Within it is explained to patients how they developed chronic pain in the first place and how to begin to heal their migraines, back pain, neck pain, tinnitus, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and all forms of chronic pain in general.

Doctor Mark Rogers bases the healing process on his 7 Principles of Healing Chronic Pain. His methods are all based in science, are common sense, pain free, drug free, have no painful exercises, and no ‘mind over matter’ meditations for coping because the problem is not in the mind of the patients, it is in their bodies at a deep cellular level. The 7 Principles have a conservative efficacy of eighty-five percent. As long as the Principles are followed the patient will heal. It is the medical system that is keeping patients in pain through ignoring the origin of the pain. Pain is not a mystery, it is not a disease, it means you are being hurt. Chronic pain means you are still being hurt. Written in a clear easy to read style with minimal medical jargon it is designed for patients to finally give them understand what happened to them and gain control over their healing processes so they can start healing today.

For More Information

‘Those who do nothing are inviting shame …(as well as violence). Those who act boldly are recognizing right as well as reality.’ John F Kennedy, 11th June 1963 Address to the American People on Civil Rights

‘The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.’ Albert Einstein

The purpose of this book is to enlighten patients about how they developed chronic pain and how it can be healed. There is no mystery, no mind over matter and in the majority of cases, no medications. The solution is a powerful blend of Nature and Science that is presented in a set of 7 common sense Principles that, when applied correctly, activate and assist the healing processes within the human body.

Patients feel frustrated that in a time where scientific research has brought about many advances in curing diseases, keeping our organs in good health and extending life expectancy, most doctors still can’t fix a bad back or tell you the real reason you get migraines or that permanent ringing in your ears. This book explains why.

The book is in three parts. In Part 1 I introduce the 7 Principles of healing chronic pain. Through them it is explained why chronic pain develops and how the normal processes the body should be carrying out to battle it are actually being inhibited by common mainstream medical practices.

I explain that chronic pain is widespread chronic inflammation, and in the chronic pain patient that inflammation is being exacerbated by the very medical treatments the doctors are prescribing. The more medical treatments the patients have, the worse they get. The result is a very sick patient. The doctors are following established, and unquestioned, guidelines so therefore it must be the patient who is at fault. A vicious downward spiral is created and it is the patient who pays the price in every way.

I have also chosen to include a little of my own story. This was not my original intent but as the book developed it soon became clear that some of my personal history was relevant to my medical work and findings on the treatment of pain.

There is nothing more personal than pain. I was once a chronic pain patient and the search for my own cure led me down an extraordinary path. I share that experience in the interest of revealing how current medical systems for pain treatment are not only ineffective but also defective, to the point where one might begin to feel it’s deliberate.

I am aware my personal story might be of no interest to some readers so I encourage them to feel free to skip the part about me which is in Chapter 1 under the sub-heading of ‘My Personal Experience with Chronic Pain and How I Healed’. After that I talk about the importance of doctors applying science in the art of medicine. I have strong opinions about it but again the reader might prefer to skip over it and go straight to reading about the 7 Principles. Within them I provide an understanding of the importance of cellular health and how chronic pain patients lost theirs.

You will be introduced to Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). I have developed my knowledge in laser therapy over the last fifteen years. LLLT is also known as cold laser therapy. This is different to the high intensity lasers used in surgery. Cold laser does not cut and is cool to the touch.

While there is much about laser within this book it is not about laser. Don’t feel that because you don’t have anyone near you offering cold laser therapy that you are unable to be helped. This book was designed to guide you through learning all about healing your pain, with or without laser.

I make it clear that Laser is not a panacea. If used alone, without applying the 7 Principles, it will not completely cure your pain. Use the 7 Principles alone and you will heal, slower. Laser and the Principles will accelerate the healing. The combination of the two, Art and Science, works rapid wonders.

You will learn that the adherence to the 7 Principles with or without the scientific application of cold laser therapy will reverse the damage caused to your cells and rejuvenate them to their normal state of full pain-free health. You will become a whole new person, physically and mentally.

Throughout the course of this book it might appear that some forms of physical therapy are being singled out as ineffective. I am vehement that when it comes to chronic pain, they are not only ineffective but dangerous. One of the things the patient will learn is that the so-called strengthening and stretching exercises of physical therapies are a big part of the problem. Most worsen the pain by irritating its source.

Physical therapies have their place, especially in rehabilitation after the pain has healed, but definitely not while it is still present. It will be recommended that physical therapies be discontinued for the duration of the healing process. Once a pain-free state is achieved the patient can return to physical therapies, but only then. Patients will be educated as to why this is the case so they can decide their own course of action.

In Part 2 we discuss the individual conditions. You will learn some facts that will challenge old thinking such as, migraine is a type of neuralgia, and tinnitus is not really a noise, it is a phantom noise. You will also get to meet some of my patients who kindly agreed to be case studies.

Their stories will inspire you, and some of them don’t hold back about how angry they feel towards the current medical system and how it kept them sick, in some cases for decades. Also included are the patients most frequently asked questions.

Part 3 is how to incorporate the 7 Principles into daily activities including sleep, exercise, and even intimacy. Medicine must put the patient first and incorporate more Science instead of blindly following draconian protocols designed purely for legal protection and financial benefit for doctors. When more Science such as LLLT becomes a part of mainstream medicine the benefits to all aspects of society will far outnumber any initial introductory inconveniences to the medical establishment.

There will be less reliance on pharmaceuticals. Insurance claims will resolve much easier, the workplace will be safer, and recovery from all accidents will be faster. Laser is invaluable for healing chronic pain quickly but it is also is an effective modality for preventative medicine. When mainstream medicine incorporates more Science there will be many changes in the way we heal. Chronic pain could soon become a thing of the past.

Chronic pain has long been considered to be an uncontrollable mystery condition. It has been grandly labeled as a complex biopsychosocial condition. Some doctors even consider it to be an incurable disease; others claim it is a result of the patient’s neuroticism. No wonder the patient is confused. The confusion ends now.

Your pain is real and it has a traceable origin. My methods locate that origin, that bull’s-eye, and the laser targets it, fills it with healing light and the body does the rest. The Principles, and the laser, are perfectly safe, pain free, and so simple they are revolutionary. The chronic pain sufferer will finally be able to get off the medical merry-go-round. When mainstream medicine stops disguising its fear of change by shunning cold laser therapy and instead embraces it, in doing so it will enter a new phase of sophisticated and inclusive patient care. Get ready for a long overdue medical revolution.

Dr. Mark J. Rogers is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms & Conditions:

By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.

Pages

Foreword Best Book of the Year Winner, 2011 Global eBooks Awards Winner, National Best Books Award Finalist and EPPIE Finalist! Currently required reading at Loyola College, Kent University and Claremont University.